from the editor
Welcome aboard the only bilingual (English & Spanish)
boating magazine in the USA - and one of the very, very few
in the world!-.
Based in Florida, YACHTING TIMES is dedicated to
everyone that loves the sea and nautical sports, from young
people competing in Olympic Classes in different Yacht
Clubs, to fishermen, divers, sailors and powerboat fans, and
even people that enjoy reading about far-away cruising
grounds and exotic landfalls from the comfort of their own
couch!.
It’s precisely Florida’s lifestyle and warm weather all year
round, that allows us to approach the sea in so many
gratifying ways. Our backyard is a paradise for boaters and
nature lovers alike.
This is a magazine written for you all and by you all, so help
us make it as interesting and thorough as you would like a
yachting magazine to be.
We´d love to receive your feedback. Please, share your
racing/cruising news with us, and send us your comments
and suggestions addressed to “Letters to the Editor”.
I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a long and
wonderful voyage together.
My best,
Dolores Barciela

IN BRIEF
US SAILING's 2010 Rolex Miami OCR will bring together the world’s top sailors for elitelevel competition in the classes selected for the Olympic and Paralympic Games from January
24-30. Held on Biscayne Bay, this prestigious event is the second stop on the International
Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010 circuit.
RMOCR is open to boats competing in events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Sailing Competitions. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn
(men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Star (men) and
Elliott 6m (women). The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR (open, able and disabled),
SKUD18 (mixed, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled). In addition to being a world-ranking
event, it is also a US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics qualifier.
Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center Miami, an official Olympic
training center, in the Coconut Grove section of Miami, Fla. Event organizers have partnered
with the city of Miami to provide world-class venues for competition. Additional hosts for the
event include Coral Reef Yacht Club, Key Biscayne Yacht Club, Coconut Grove Sailing Club,
Miami Rowing Club and Shake-a-Leg Miami. www.RMOCR.ussailing.org
Part of the Dutch Olympic Women Match Race Team
prepping one of their Olympic Class Elliott 6M at the
Key Biscayne Yacht Club.
Dutch Racer Marjon Kooistra reports their Olympic
squad has two 3-girl teams, one headcoach and a team
manager.

33rd AMERICA’S CUP
The America’s Cup is sailing’s most prestigious event and the oldest trophy
in international sport. Founded in 1851, it predates the modern Olympics by
45 years.
The 33rd AC is scheduled to take place in Valencia, Spain, starting February 8, 2010, between two 90 ft multihulls.
Official website: www.americascup.com
Defender’s site: www.alinghi.com
Challenger’s site: www.bmworacleracing.com
UK-Halsey, just added another
feature beyond its animated
Racing Rules Quizzes. They just
began posting a series of rules
questions in their Rules Blog.
You email your answer and reasoning, and the best ones will be
posted – to launch a blog discussion where UK-Halsey’s Butch
Ulmer (with occasional outside
help from rules experts) will lead participants on in a partly-Socratic
online discussion. It’s an entertaining yet incredibly instructive method
to understand the Rules, making the complexity that underlies simplelooking situations much more intelligible. www.ukhalsey.com

Key West 2010, presented by Nautica is an international regatta already in its 23rd edition. One Design, PHRF and
IRC fleets featuring the latest designs from around the world will come together from January 18-22 for an exceptional
week of international racing excitement and shoreside fun at the southernmost point in the continental United States.
Among the one design division, the stars will be Farr 40, Melges 32 and 24, J/105, Swan 42 and Farr 30.
2010 Miami Grand Prix, March 4-7, Miami Beach, is an international regatta that will provide both one design and
IRC racing. There will be one racing division for TP52, Swan 42, Farr 40, Melges 32. Race Headquarters will be at the
Miami Beach Marina.

If you happen to be in Europe next summer
check www.powerboatp1.com for more info.

6 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

BACARDI MIAMI SAILING WEEK - March 8-13, 2010 is a fun-filled week of regattas that will bring the national
and international sailing community together.
The historic BACARDI Cup, in its 83rd edition, and its Star
fleet will be part of the event. Other one-design classes will
be added to the program.
www.miamisailingweek.com

Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Torben Grael
(Brazil) joined the sailing world´s most prestigious list of winners as they were named the
2009 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year at
a spectacular ceremony held in Korea.
In 2009 Beijing Olympic gold medallist Anna
Tunnicliffe won the Laser Radial ISAF Sailing World Cup title as well as numerous
match racing titles. Our warmest congratulations, Anna!.

Australian adventurer and solo round the world sailor, Don McIntyre announced that Mike Perham, the world's youngest solo circumnavigator, has signed up as Second-in-command for the 2010 Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition. This is
a 4,000-mile re-enactment 221 years after Capt William Bligh and his supporting crew were forced into an open-boat by
the mutineering crew on HMS Bounty and successfully sailed from Tonga to Timor in the Pacific. Talisker, the famous
single malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, will be sponsoring the expedition.
The Route: McIntyre and Perham will follow in the footsteps of Capt. William Bligh when cast adrift from HMS Bounty
in the Pacific on April 28, 1789. This McIntyre and his 3-man crew will board their 25ft ‘Bounty Boat’ in the same position exactly 221 years to the day of the Bounty Mutiny. They will first sail to Tonga to find extra food and water, before
heading westwards across the top of Fiji and the Vanuatu Islands, bound for the Queensland Coast, Australia to landlike Bligh- on Restoration Island. They will then sail north inside the Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island, and then
through the Torres Strait to Kupang and Timor.
If successful, this will be the first time that anyone has sailed the same course in the same way that Bligh did.
For more info visit www.taliskerbountyboat.com
7

8 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Located on a barrier island off the shores of Biscayne
Bay, Key Biscayne Yacht Club has been serving the sailing community of South Florida for almost 55 years.
Originally it was to open somewhere on Mashta Point or
Virginia Key, but 180 Harbor Drive was chosen because
of the sheltered conditions the location offered. The club
has some 100 dock spaces and a large dry dock area, an
Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, gazebo and a
Clubhouse with an ample terrace for al fresco dining.

The Club hosted Olympic trials for Ynglings and 49ers in
2004. During the 1990’s the Club ran Miami Olympic
Classes regattas for the Solings. After 2000, the Club ran
Miami Olympic Classes for Ynglings, 49ers and Sonars at
various times. The Club also fundraised many Olympians
such as Kevin Burnham who won a gold medal at the
2004 Olympics in Athens. Other great KBYC sailors included Morgan Reeser, Linda Wennerstom, Tracy Haley,
and Louise VanVoorhis Gleason.

YTM had the opportunity to chat both with KBYC Commodore Mr. John Arnholt, as well as with Past Commodore Mr. Ronald Drucker. With more than 850 members,
the Key Biscayne Yacht Club’s main goal is to promote
boating, and it has also become a great place for fishing,
tennis and socializing. “Thanks to its relaxed and familyfriendly atmosphere, members consider it an extension of
their home”, explained Commodore Arnholt. Most of its
members come from diverse cultural backgrounds and the
Club is a mix of powerboats and sailboats, tilting a bit
towards power.

The Yacht Club is presently hosting the ELLIOTT 6m
Olympic Class, the boat designated for the women’s
match racing event for the 2010 Rolex Miami OCR. Racing will start on Monday January 25th and continue
through Saturday 30th.
The KBYC Race Committee will run all of the on-thewater match racing. Among the 24 teams, International
competitors are coming from Denmark, Holland, Australia, U.K. Russia, New Zealand and Bermuda and they will
be training at the Club. Women’s match racing will make
its debut in the 2012 Olympic Games.
The KBYC run MOCR event will consist of an opening
series, a knockout series, and a sail-off for boats not advancing to the knock-out series. Medals will be awarded
to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic
event on Saturday, January 30th.

KBYC is a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs
– its members enjoying full reciprocity- and the Yachting
Club of America – which extends reciprocity to Clubs
across the nation. Members use these privileges, for example, when they head up north in the summer, stopping
at reciprocal clubs on their way up.
Many young Key Biscayners have sailed over the years in
the very successful summer program that gave way to a
great racing program. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s the
racing program was one of the top teams in the bay.

“There will be 50 flights, each of which is a series of
matches; a total of some 194 races. Altogether, a great
undertaking!” explains Mr. Drucker.
“It’s a great opportunity for members to get involved and
see races up close, even to meet sailors. Some get to stay
in KBYC members’ homes.

Sailing Director Karen Tone

Yngling in terms of boat handling and speed.
Ynglings, and we developed an enthusiasm for In 2004,
we ran the Olympic trials for these as well”.
“We think it´s key for Yacht Club members to get to participate in race committees, watch the races and get a
glance of what’s happening today in the highest international levels of yachting. Interacting with the sailors, we
get to learn what the future of sailing is in Olympic sport”.
Certainly, a great place for sport and family oriented activities, over the years the Key Biscayne Yacht Club has
become the home of important children’s sailing programs
such as the historic South East Dinghy championship. As
a matter of fact, the youth sailing program is one of the
longest running programs on Key Biscayne. It started in
the 60’s with wooden prams and Sunfish sailing in the protected harbor Biscayne Bay had to offer.
Match racing is better in many ways than fleet racing in
that it builds a better sailor. “The difference between the
two is that in match racing it’s as much the strategy for
you to be ahead, as it is in keeping the other boat from being ahead, and because it’s always only two boats, there is
constant interaction”, Mr. Drucker adds.
“Also, you never have the luxury of a long tack, match
racing develops a sharper sailor.
There’s constant activity and also this activity is easier to
capture, which makes it more attractive to the media. The
most famous match race is the America’s Cup”.
The KBYC has developed a very positive reputation for
being willing to try new things. Mr. Drucker says it has
been the first and only club in the Biscayne Bay to host the
former women Olympic keelboat class Yngling. “We ran
the first MOCR event in Miami, and in 2004 we ran the
US Olympic trials for these boats. The winner, Carol Cronin and her team ended up representing the US at the
Olympics in Athens later that year”, he explains. “At the
same time we were running the hosting the 49ers regattas.
The 49er is a type of boat that is totally different from an

Coach Alejandro Tano
10 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Eventually, twelve new Optimist prams were bought and
the youth sailing program was reinstituted under modern
US Sailing principles.
In 2000 a new program was developed in the already successful sailing summer camp: London Foggies.
This program introduced sailing and environmental conscience to the youngest of sailors that were five to eight
years of age, with a new Marine Science program, where
children explore the ecosystem in their own backyard of
Biscayne Bay.
Today the Key Biscayne Yacht Club youth sailing program is still going strong, after a short period of stalling
due to lack of support and coaching staff in 2001.
It was later re-established and in 2007 sailing coach Alejandro Tano, a long-time veteran, took charge of the racing
program. In 2008 a new sailing director was hired, Karen
Tone, who with the help of Mr. Tano built an incredible
sailing program in a matter of only two years.

We were happy to learn that all spaces in the sailing program
were covered at press time. There are 16 sailors on the current roster of the racing program, which is the largest in the
yacht club’s history and new programs have been introduced
in the fall of 2009 such as the London Foggies fun fleet. The
Fun fleet, is run by program leader Stephanie Urban, a fouryear veteran of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.
The goal of the Fun fleet is to introduce sailing the Optimist
Pram to children who are learning to race in a fun way for
their age.
The youth sailing program is like a big family according to
Coach Tano. Its goal is to keep a family friendly program but
still be competitive. Many of the kids make new friends
around the state and locally through many of the regattas during the season. “Winning the race is something on the side. It
is truly all about having fun and enjoying the wonderful sport
of sailing” he adds. “Sailing can make the child a strong individual later on in life, simply by using some of the skills they
learn in sailing at KBYC”.
“Karen has done a tremendous job creating the program. It´s
a very common first step to start with the Optis. Now, where
do we go from here?” ponders Mr. Drucker. In order to be
successful in choosing the logical next step to offer athletes a
good deal of competition, some consensus should be reached
by all the clubs in the Biscayne area. He thinks that a twoperson boat to follow up the Opti will develop communication skills between the crew, as later seen in bigger scenarios.
It teaches team work, discipline, sportsmanship and cooperation, and helps them morph into adult sailors.
Among truly remarkable KBYC members that are working
hard to promote the sport we´d like to especially mention
Hortensia Hacker. Also, Steve Stollman, owner of Primal
Scream, who’s been winning many of the races on the East
Coast for the last few years, showing an exemplary professionalism and know-how. This sailor really has got what it
takes: a thoughtfully optimized boat and deck layout, and an
award-winning crew. John Greeven, a very knowledgeable
and avid sailor who owns a multihull as well as an Etchell
that he races regularly, Ray Sullivan with Second Wind, lifelong sailor Alberto Pagano and Jaime Gutierrez amongst others, are also credits to the Yacht Club.
We would like to thank Commodore J. Arnholt and Past
Commodore Ronald Drucker, as well as Sailing Director
Karen Tone and Alejandro Tano, for their time and help in
the making of this article. Photos of Primal Scream on Biscayne Bay and Going to Weather, kindly provided by Steve
Stollman.
For more information, please visit: www.kbyc.org
www.primalscreamracing.com

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, offshore of Big
Pine Key, does not get much of the lime light that shines
on the more famous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State
Park… but that just might be a good thing for visiting
snorkelers.
Less attention means less crowds and a more leisurely
experience enjoying beautiful reefs every bit as spectacular as Key Largo’s reefs some 65 miles to the north. Looe
Key is not an island like the other Keys, but actually a
shallow spur and groove reef system that got its name
from the HMS Looe that supposedly ran aground there in
1744. This reef system is considered such an extraordinary example that it was declared a national sanctuary in
1981, providing much of the protections that make it such
a haven for marine life today.
There are a number of boats that run out of both Big Pine
Key and beautiful Bahia Honda State Park. If you leave

www.islandexposure.us

nook. Eels hide in cracks, shrimp dance in holes, lobsters
salute with spiny antennae and hungry grouper look for
an easy meal. Keep an eye out on the eastern part of the
reef and you might be able to make out the dozens of old
ballast stones said to be from the wreck of the Looe.If you
choose a longer day trip with some divers on board, there
is a good chance to snorkel three different sections of reef
– most people find the extra water time well worth it!
This is a place where the water visibility can be amazing
and if the conditions are just right, may leave a snorkeler
feeling as if they are floating in space.
Tip: Do your homework and find out what style of trip
and boat best suits your style of snorkeling, comfort level
and schedule.
When to go: Year round, with water temperatures varying from 85 degrees in the summer to about 73 degrees in
the winter
http://www.fla-keys.com/listing.cfm?id=176

“ This is part of the third longest barrier reef in the world and
thanks to over 25 years of protection, the fish life parades in
carefree abundance above swaying purple sea fans, complex
staghorn coral and boulders of brain coral ”
from Bahia Honda, you can also enjoy one of the Florida
Keys most beautiful beaches. While it is easy to grab your
gear and go finning off the beach, it doesn’t begin to compare to the living barrier reef offshore. It is 6 to 12 miles
out by boat to the reef depending on departure point and I
strongly recommend you check on the weather conditions
the day before if you have the luxury of timing your trip.
Light winds and calm seas will make for easier conditions
and clearer water, while lots of sunshine on a shallow reef
just seems to make it come more alive.

So what is so special about this place? Well...
this is part of the third longest barrier reef in the world
and thanks to over 25 years of protection, the fish life parades in carefree abundance above swaying purple sea
fans, complex staghorn coral and boulders of brain coral.
In places the coral rises close to the surface and you can
actually see the multitude of individual tiny coral polyps
that make up the coral reef. But there are plenty of deeper
sections, where there is always a chance to spot rays, sea
turtles, lazy nurse sharks and even enormous tarpon are
not uncommon. The sanctuary’s reefs are a place to play
“find the critter” as you drift along above a kaleidoscopic
cavalcade of brilliant tropical fish darting from nook to

2 Biscayne National Underwater Park,
Florida:
There is a hidden gem of a national park near Miami that
many visitors and residents alike never take the time to
visit. The area was declared a National monument in 1968
and became Biscayne National Underwater Park in 1980.
Located east of Homestead and the Everglades, the park’s
181,000 acres encompass all of the southern portion of
Biscayne bay, the accompanying mangrove shoreline on
the mainland and all the islands and reefs of the keys
north of Key Largo (short of Key Biscayne). As about
95% of the park’s area is underwater – it is pretty obvious
what the focus is in this national park! In fact most of the
visitors to this beautiful area come by their own boat, but
there is also a drive-in park entrance at the Convoy Point
Visitor Center.
Visitors without their own boat will find canoe and kayak
rentals for mangrove exploration as well as boat operators
who run snorkel and dive trips two to three times a day.
Snorkeling is almost always possible in the shallow protected areas of the bay near the northern keys even if the
15

wind is a bit blustery. This is the tidal zone that functions
as a nursery for mature fish seen out on the reef and offers
many curiosities. But if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a reasonably experienced
snorkeler and conditions are favorable, it is well worth
going out with the dive trip to the northernmost portion of
the Keys barrier reef.
The crew on all the boats are
extremely helpful with catering to snorkelers and rental
gear is readily available.
These reefs are bathed by the warm water of the gulf
stream where fans and soft coral gorgonia reach out toward the surface. Schools of yellow striped grunts are
stacked fin to fin and French angelfish the size of dinner
platters roll a wary eye to the funny looking humans floating above. Freedive down to peer beneath the coral heads
and you may be rewarded by the sight of a live conch,
cowrie , brilliant flame scallop or just a closer look at the
many butterfly and parrot fish.
Especially exciting is catching a glimpse of one of the
many resident sea turtles in the area.
On a perfect day, when the bright sunlight adds dizzying
patterns of fishnet-like light refraction playing over the
reef it is easy to loose all track of time. The 90 minute
stay on the reef is over before you know it and it is time

for the easy ride back while comparing your sightings
with the others on board.
Tip: If you are an advanced snorkeler, request to go out
with the divers and they will take you to the outer reef
areas.
When to go: Year round, but temperatures are much
cooler between November and May
Underwater Unlimited www.biscayneunderwater.com
BiscayneNationalPark@gmail.com
305.230.1100

3 Crystal River, Florida:
One of the most unique snorkel experiences in Florida is
found in this quiet waterfront community on the west
coast of Florida about 80 miles north of Tampa. Aside
from a picturesque setting on the estuary of Kings Bay,
the area provides the best place in the country to experience the gentle
West Indian Manatee in its own environment. People
come from around the world to savor this rare encounter
with an endangered mammal that some think inspired the
legend of mermaids.

“ Aside from a picturesque setting on the estuary of Kings Bay, the
area provides the best place in the country to experience the gentle
West Indian Manatee in its own environment. People come from
around the world to savor this rare encounter with an endangered
mammal that some think inspired the legend of mermaids”
Manatees are present in the area year round, but they are
far more prolific in the winter when passing cold fronts
drive the warm blooded sirens from the chilly Gulf of
Mexico to seek comfort in the warm spring-fed waters of
Crystal River.
Several operators provide manatee dedicated trips on comfortable pontoon boats with expert guides. First timers
might feel a little crazy gathering before dawn on the marina docks in 40 degree temperatures to go snorkeling, but
there is method to the madness. As guides will explain, the
cold weather inspires manatees to seek the very source of
the warm 72º spring water where it is clear as glass. It is
not unusual to have 5 to 20 manatees gathered around
these spa-like springs, scattered around the bay. After a
thorough explanation of “manatee etiquette” designed to
ensure that the sea-cow is always in control, visitors slip
into the water in buoyant wet suits to test their

animal magnetism. Though there are no guarantees, it is
common for a manatee to swim right up and take a close
look at their human counterparts.
Some people are occasionally selected for a flipper
squeeze, a mask nibble or a full on manatee hug… even
skeptics are won over by their charming personality, if not
their whiskery good looks.
This is extremely easy snorkeling with sometimes very
little movement required and a good manatee encounter
may last from 5 to 30 minutes.
If your boat is in the Three Sisters Spring area (a favorite
manatee hangout), I highly recommend making the effort
to swim upstream to the main spring basin. After about a
five minute swim, you enter into a stunningly beautiful
oasis of old Florida, with calm water as clear as air over a
white sand bottom with grunts and jacks seeming to float
in air.
17

M37 Island Hopper
Purpose built to cruise the islands… any islands!
by Bill Ando

Once thought not to be real sailboats by the conservative sailing establishment, multihulls have
come to be accepted over the years.
Just look at the Caribbean bareboat fleets.
With two giant multihulls ready to duel it out for the
America’s Cup, the nonbelievers are going to get quite a
show.
Though not as big as the AC yachts Moxie Yachts’ M37
Island Hopper catamaran is also purpose built. Well considered and perfectly adapted to recreational use, it is
what Uwe Jaspersen, the designer and the owner of Jaz
Marine in South Africa, the Island Hopper’s builder, intended when he set out to create “the perfect coastal
cruising cat.”
Moxie Yachts was inspired by a slow sail in nasty
weather from Newfoundland to Cape Breton Island
aboard a Swan 53. Upon returning home, the three ex
20 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

perienced sailors– Milt Charbonneau, John Blin and
Alexis de Boucaud – contacted the renowned French
firm VPLP Designs whose boats have dominated multihull racing since the mid-1980s. The conversation Blin
had with Marc Van Peteghem (the VP of VPLP) recalled
the adventure of Phil Weld, a Boston publisher who won
the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race in 1980
aboard his trimaran Moxie. Van Peteghem told Blin that
after Weld’s success, the French took the hint and turned
ocean racing in multihulls into a national pastime. Invoking the determined spirit of Weld’s Moxie, Blin, Charbonneau and de Boucaud formed Moxie Yachts.
In vetting builders, they decided on Jaz Marine, based in
Capetown, South Africa. “Technology knowledge is
high, and the labor rate is excellent,” says Blin. Jaz Marine already had made a name for itself building 40-foot
racing monohulls and as the builder of the Morelli and
Melvin-designed 62-foot Gunboats

Although VPLP drew a 61-footer for
Moxie Yachts (due to launch this September), Blin says, “We needed an entry-level Moxie.” Therefore, the team
commissioned Jaspersen to build a 37foot cat. It was based on a prototype
he’d already built, an open-deck design, called the Island Hopper. “We
needed a few more things to make it
marketable.” Blin explains, a wider
beam and hard Bimini top for the U.S.
market.
The M37 Island Hopper was born,
making its debut at the Annapolis show
in October 2008. Jaspersen’s experience in high-tech manufacturing translates into a lightweight boat – a good
attribute, especially for a catamaran,
where weight is the enemy. Specifically, the M37 Island Hopper is constructed of E-glass cloth and epoxy
resin over a CoreCell foam core.
Carbon fiber reinforces areas where
additional strength is needed, such as at
chain plates. The full structure is built
using the resin-infusion method to additionally control weight and strength.
near the transom.
Abrasion resistance on the cat’s bottom
is dealt with by a layer of Kevlar in the
outer skin that runs from about two feet
above DWL at the bows to about five
inches above DWL
The 45-foot-long rotating wing mast is
built of carbon fiber, keeping weight
aloft to a minimum. That delivers a
mast height above the water of 54 feet,
6 inches, leaving room to clear Florida’s fixed ICW bridges.

Cruiseability
One measure of a well-considered
cruising boat is how much it can stand
to be loaded down with essentials as
well as souvenirs of the voyage and
still perform. “I worked on a payload
of 600 pounds per passenger, but that
depends on how many people are onboard and how far you will be going,”
Jaspersen says. “For a weekend trip, I
think most people will struggle to add
600 pounds per person.”
I found the boat ideal for a couple and
two children or two couples for extended cruises.

For weekends and day sails, there is plenty of room for more than four. In fact, with a queen-size berth in each
hull, and the option of another double in the stern of the port hull, the M37 Island Hopper is capable of sleeping
six comfortably. The optional bunk doubles as a chart table with storage beneath it. The two regular bunks are
amidships forward of the companionway in each hull. They are situated fore and aft, so they will be comfortable
in most conditions underway. In fact, I went below at sea, and the movement was easy and not magnified, even
with a swell and a little chop. We tacked while I was below, and I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aware of it until I went topside.
Headroom is 6 feet, 9 inches immediately adjacent to the bunk. The hulls in that area are 4-feet, 5-inches wide.
A bit of that width is lost to storage, but still, there is plenty of hip room. All accommodations are constructed in
lightweight composite with painted finishes, and top-grade wood-grain laminates trim the edges, acting as fiddles.

Each bunk stateroom contains an en suite head and
shower forward. The heads are essentially wet rooms.
There is ample space to shower, and opening ports on
each side of the head, as well as a deck hatch, provide
efficient cross ventilation.
Jaspersen decided to cover the outside deck space with
a hard bimini, which extends over the centerline of the
hulls, providing all-weather protection. Thoughtfully a
boltrope slot is molded into three sides on the bottom
of the hardtop.
An owner can have either a full mosquito net or an isinglass enclosure made to fit and enclose the lounging
cockpit. Two seats that comfortably accommodate four
people each face a centerline console with a toploading, 42-gallon-capacity icebox with drop leaves.
Each seatback folds down, converting the seat to a bed
for those balmy island nights when it’s nice to sleep
outdoors.
It’s the location of the sailing cockpit that makes the
M37 Island Hopper a great ride. You stand low on the
bottom of the wing deck in the center of motion, and
there is no overriding feeling of movement or speed.
The 19-square-foot cockpit is comfortable and roomy
enough for three average-size, geared-up sailors; four if
you’re friends. There are molded-in steps to access the
foredeck. It wouldn’t hurt the comfort factor to have a
fold-down seat or two in the cockpit, but that is a personal item better left to an owner’s wishes. The mast is
mounted in front of the helm on the forward crossbeam.
All of the sheets and halyards as well as the reefing,
mast and dagger board control lines are convenient.
Line stoppers let the winches do double duty when required.
How well a boat moves in light air is telling of the design. Using U.S. Sailing’s sail area displacement formula (http://www.sailingusa.info/cal__sad_ratio.htm),
the M37 Island Hopper boasts a 31 SA/D ratio that is
based on its published weight of 7165 pounds and the
combined sail area of 720 square feet of main and Solent. That’s in the high-performance racer category.
Considering four onboard at the allowed 600 pounds
each in payload, the ratio lowers to 25.9, but it remains
in the same category.
The Island Hopper is a great Bahamas boat and will
live up to its name. It sails well, and it should be a terrific light-air performer. Additionally, it will provide a
memorable sail riding a front down island from Nassau
and still tack north in a blow. What a comfortable ride
it will be in that center cockpit.

Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost are known for designing
fast yachts that usually have more than one hull!....
Say the letters V-P-L-P. You’ve just said the name of the most successful designers of multihulls on the planet. Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot
Prévost, the French design team known as VPLP, the acronym from the combination of the initials of their last names.
26 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Fast friends since they met during their studies

perhaps the most visible boat they have de-

at Southhampton Institute, they nurtured their

signed, and certainly the most innovative, it is

passion for the sea by frequent sails aboard the

not the largest boat they have drawn.

Val 38-foot trimaran Elle -- a Dick Newick de-

Their boats have set and hold more records than

sign, which they helped to build on the banks of

any other designer or design team.

the Hamble.

Arguably no other multihull designers have

It also turned their eyes toward mutihulls as the

dominated in the various fields of yacht design:

way to go fast under sail.

record setting trimarans: Geronimo the 34-meter

The lifelong sailors were fresh out of college

(112-foot) trimaran for Olivier de Kersauson set

when they founded VPLP in 1983, launching

five records in the pacific and took the Jules

the enterprise with a racing trimaran design

Verne trophy in 2004.

commissioned for the OSTAR, (Observer

Currently the 40-meter

Singlehanded Transatlantic Race) now known

Maxi Banque Pouplaire V, holds the 24-hour

as the English Transat.

sailing record of 907 miles that was set as it

The 50-foot foiler Gerard Lambert was the first

claimed the east to west transatlantic record in

in a long line of racing trimarans that created a

three days and 15 hours.

name for the firm and established the young

There hasn’t been an offshore multihull race in

designers as innovators in the field of naval ar-

the last ten years that has not had a VPLP design

chitecture.

at the starting line.

Although the BMW ORACLE 90-foot trimaran

Douce France, launched in 1999, at 140-feet is

that will soon race for the America’s Cup is

still the worlds largest sailing catamaran.

(131-foot) trimaran,

“ Their boats have set and hold more records than any other
designer or design team. Arguably, no other multihull designers have dominated in the various fields of yacht design”

Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW ORACLE RACING

Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW ORACLE RACING
27

Soon though it will be eclipsed by Hemisphere a 145-footer that will launch in about eight months from Penndennis.
Production cruising catamarans: Lagoon maintains the most successful global sales in their market.
They have also gladly drawn monohulls, including two 60-foot racers.
They say there hasn't been a great deal of notoriety as a result of the AC challenger—some in the racing field but it has
not been overwhelming. They have enjoyed some brand recognition in the luxury cruising market, “but only by aficionados”. Now, with the concern over climate change and energy usage the team is once again thinking ahead. At the design
Symposium in New York City held in October of 2009 Van Peteghem presented a design manifesto on a practical
ocean sailing catamaran. It is “a yacht designed to voyage—simple, functional, fast, reliable and easy to maintain”.
They say the boats they remain fondest of are their first ones, Gerard Lambert, Douce France- which Marc says was 10
years ahead of its time- and, of course, BMW Oracle. It’s interesting to note that there is no length mentioned on the
manifesto.

That is because the ideas put forth are applicable
to any size yacht. A split schooner rig is indicated
“to limit the loads during manoeuvres and enable
them to be manually operated.” The hulls will of
course contain the staterooms. “Laid out according to a plan which avoids the costly procedure of
having to shape the furniture to meet the curve of
the hull.” Van Peteghem states in the Manifesto.
The main deck, it continues, can be laid out freely
according to the needs of the client, but the core of
the realization stays the same. “We will use flat
panels and angled elements to enable a better utilization of space. It also insists that it be “an ecologically clean and an economically functioning
yacht.”

It will safely handle containment and

treatment of used water and lower the energy consumed by reverting to alternative solutions.
A natural ventilation system that will, to a large
extent, substitute for air conditioning. Minimize
the use of lights and reduce hydraulic functions as
much as possible.
Also, ensure simultaneous access to renewable
energy: solar, thermal and photovoltaic and wind
energy and a large bank of new generation batteries.
As the world changes and people realize the benefits of catamarans and trimarans, the VPLP brand
will no doubt grow to enjoy a notoriety beyond
that which it has today—deservedly so.
Anyone who has sailed a trimaran or catamaran
across an ocean knows the subtle details that it
takes to make a multihull work day after day in
the elements. Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent
Lauriot Prévost have that figured out. So the rest
of us can go out and enjoy their work.

OTHER STUNNING DESIGNS BY VPLP: L’ HYDROPTERE...

Simply the
fastest
sailing
boat
in the
world!

On 4th September 2009
L’ Hydroptere beat two
world speed records
over 500 meters and
one nautical mile.
Thanks to this performance, the trimaran has
now become the fastest
sailing boat on the
planet (in all classes)
over both distances.
Thus the new absolute
sailing speed record is
now set at 51.36 knots
over 500 meters.
During the same session, L’ Hydroptere
smashed the outright
nautical mile record
with an unbelievable
average speed of 48.74
knots.
Photos by Guilain
GRENIER

… AND

MOXIE 61

M61 by Moxie Yachts—the multihull cruiser redefined
An impeccable pedigree and luxurious appointments in an ultra-light all-carbon construction. Safe, user-friendly, and
featuring ocean-tested solutions, the M61 reflects VPLP’s 25-year history of record-setting designs.
With lines that spell speed and elegance, the M61 is a world-class multihull for all sailors—monohull racers, luxury
cruisers, and anyone seeking high performance, comfort, and safety at sea.
www.moxieyachts.com

M61 will be launched this Summer.
YTM will be featuring it in a coming issue.

DESTINATIONS

CRUISING

BRAZIL

by Dolores Barciela

Photos & sketches by Adolfo Mrongowius

Imagine a huge tropical country with the friendliest people ever,
virgin rain-forests, beautiful sceneries, melodious tunes, exotic and tasty
food, and over 4,000 miles of spectacular coastline hardly ever threatened by volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis nor earthquakes.
Sounds like paradise, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it?.
Aboard Viking II, our 33-foot 1949 Sparkman & Stephens fractional-rig
sloop, my husband Adolfo and I set sail from our home in Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Our three-and-a-half year cruise ultimately ended in Maine,
but beautiful Brazil, where we spent at least half of that time, will
always remain our favorite part of the voyage.
32 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

The good news is that it isn’t yet a well-known cruising
destination. So, aside from a few German and French sailboats, that quickly cruise southbound on their way to
round Cape Horn, some Americans and South Africans
that briefly visit its northeastern coast on their journey
from South Africa to the Caribbean, and some clever fellows that prefer spending an easy Caribbean hurricane
season here rather than in Trinidad, the ABC islands or
Venezuela, we were generally the only foreign sailboat
wherever we visited and we rarely found crowded Marinas.
This country is blessed with some of the loveliest and
least-explored beaches in the world as well as hundreds of
sheltered harbors and secluded coves along its coast,
making it easy to take day trips to nearly two-thirds of its
coastline. As we cruised north, we marveled at the diversity in scenery and in inhabitants, as Brazil thrives on its
colorful regionalism. The South, below the Tropic of
Capricorn, predominantly offers a year-round subtropical
climate, but there´s also snowfall in the mountains during
winter.
The region is also marked by plain livestock-farming
lands, where Brazilian cowboys- the well-known gaúchos
- live, and by the beginning of the General Mountain
Range, with its rolling hills, picturesque valleys, and a
fertile wine region that are populated by European descendants- mainly Italians, Germans and Polish.
The Southeast region comprises the beachside city of
Rio de Janeiro and industrial Sâo Paulo as well as the
1,000-mile-long Sea Mountain Range, which is covered
by the tropical Mâta Atlántica rain forest. It also includes
protected islands in bays that make a perfect cruising
ground year-round.
The Northeast, center of the sugar cane industry during
colonial times, is mainly populated by Portuguese and
Indians mixed with the descendants of African tribes
whose religious beliefs, music, dance and cuisine are the
main ingredients of Brazilian culture.
Its coastline, blessed with warm weather all year round,
offers miles of beaches bordered by coconut palms and
protected by reefs that create pleasant natural pools of salt
water at low tide.
They help stabilize the coastline by placating waves and
reducing erosion. Where the reefs end, the shoreline becomes cliffs and high sand dunes.
The Northern equatorial part of the country is characterized by low swampy lands covered by mangroves and the
Amazon River, with its quaint port villages, rich rainforest flora and fauna, and the isolated jungle huts of Indian fishermen. As cruisers, we had the privilege of coming into contact with these fishermen and experienced
firsthand their astonishing generosity and hospitality.
It´s our last day in IlhaGrande, after some three months
of living in harmony with nature, fishing for food and
drinking fresh water from mountain springs. Viking II is

anchored at Enseada das Palmas on the NE coast, not far
from a tropical jungle that covers the surrounding hills.
Our dinghy is already lashed on deck, and we are ready
to set sail for Río. But, as a farewell to this jewel, we dive
into green peaceful waters and swim towards shore,
Adolfo holding his surfboard and I, a waterproof camera.
Barefoot, we follow a mile-long dirt track across a hill.
Multicolored butterflies flutter among giant ferns and the
air is thick with the rich aroma of fertile soil.
We soon reach the spectacular Lopes Mendes Beach, a
half-moon bay with two miles of soft white sand.
Because of the clear sand on the bottom of the water, the
sea here has a stunning transparency that creates an Edenlike effect: emerald green water in the shallows and dark
turquoise in the deep.
I jog and swim while Adolfo surfs translucent waves,
and after some really pleasant hours we´re still alone in
this beach, as pirates were centuries ago.
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Ilha Grande and Ilhabela, some 100 miles south, were well-known slave-trade
drop-off points and European pirates’ refuges.
One of the most famous to visit the area on his way to
the Horn was British pirate Thomas Cavendish, who
burned and sacked Santos city (São Paulo’s Port) in 1592.
Legends about hidden treasures abound in this region.
Viking II

That night, as we approach Río de Janeiro under sail, I
remember another story we heard about French pirate
René Duguay-Trouin, who managed to get to this city
unnoticed one foggy night in 1711 and ransacked it for
over two months.
It’s a dark night, but the city lights guide us. From the
top of the Corcovado mountain, the huge illuminated
Christ the Redeemer statue welcomes us with outstretched arms to the Cidade Maravilhosa ( the Marvelous City), Río de Janeiro. The name conjures up magic
and sensuality, Samba rhythms, Carnival parades and
Bossa Nova music.
At the entrance of Baía de Guanabara, we sail by the imposing Pão de Açúcar ( Sugar Loaf mountain) and into
the big bay that the first Portuguese sailors mistook for a
river when they sailed down here on January 1st. 1502,
prompting them to call the newly found settlement Río de
Janeiro ( January River).
During the 18th century, Río was the colony’s capital,
and its port brought in an important flow of wealth from
the gold mines in the neighboring state of Minas Geráis.
By the end of the 18th. century, Napoleon Bonaparte
occupied Spain, and the Portuguese court of Dom João
VI fled to Brazil. Río became the capital of the Portuguese Empire. Bearing witness to this splendorous past
are several European palaces as well as the botanical gardens, Jardim Botânico.
After a month stay at Guanabara, we are eager to continue our cruise north. We stop for a week at Búzios- a
fishing village in a beautiful peninsula that became world
-famous after Brigitte Bardot visited it during the 60sand is now a jet-set summer resort, full of local artists
and hippies.
Our next landfall is the Arquipélago dos Abrolhos,
some 40 miles off Brazil´s northeastern coast. In 1503
Amerigo Vespucci’s expedition sailed by here, and his
logbook reads:” Quando te aproximares a terra, abre bem
os olhos”, When you get close to land, open your eyes.
That’s the origin of the name “Abrolhos”, which designates a dangerous area full of coral reefs and five tiny
islands of volcanic origin, the Parque Nacional Marinho
dos Abrolhos.
This sanctuary is an important shelter for migratory
birds and sea mammals as well as being the biggest South
American reef complex.
We approach Siriba Island from the southwest and anchor between it and Redonda island, close to the rocky
path that joins them.
The water here is more than 30 feet deep, yet I can
clearly notice a big manta-ray swimming near the bottom.
Each bird species has thriven on a different island. When
we go for a walk to Ilha Siriba, the exclusive habitat of
the white boobies, we are thrilled to watch these peaceful
birds incubate their eggs. The day we decide to leave, the
first humpback whales arrive.
34 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Some 500 females migrate here every year between July and November to give birth and nurse
their young. They offer us a thrilling show, with
their acrobatic jumps and pirouettes.
The mainland coast we sail past, part of the state
of Bahia, is known as “ a Terra da Felicidade” ( Land of Happiness) not only because of
its hundreds of long, wide beaches bordered by
coconut trees but also because, according to
Jorge Amado, Brazil´s best-known novelist and a
Bahia native, “ Under a sky of admirable clearness, Brazil’s sweetest people live”.
Working our way north from Abrolhos, we
visit heaven-like Camamú Bay and stay for a
few days anchored in front of a lovely deserted
beach.
The only visits we receive are from a group of
playful dolphins every afternoon and a toothless
fisherman offering us fresh lobster, which we
grill on our cockpit barbecue, and enjoy while
watching the sunset. Some 30 miles north, Bahía’s most fashionable summer resort, the famous
Morro de São Paulo on Ilha de Tinharé, welcomes us with its stunning beauty. There are no
cars here, only donkeys. The beaches, for convenience, are referred to as First, Second, Third
and Fourth, and it’s difficult to say which one is
the prettiest.

We anchor in front of a tropical yacht club set in a jungly hillside and walk to the nearby village. Everyone seems to be
partying all day long here and the good humor is contagious.
Tomorrow we’ll sail by Baía de Todos os Santos ( All Saints
Bay) towards Salvador, Bahía’s capital.
We’ve heard a lot about this charismatic city, which till 1763
was also Brazil’s capital. Salvador, the city of the 365
churches, conducts one of the country´s most colorful and fervent celebrations of the candomblé ceremonies. These rituals,
which slaves brought with them from Africa centuries ago,
mingled with Catholicism to create a unique spiritual practice.
And second only to the annual event in Rio, Salvador also hosts
an annual Carnival celebration that keeps people partying in the
streets for at least three or four days in February or March.
We can´t wait to get there and experience it all through the
people’s own picturesque rhythm. We might as well admit it:
Brazil’s irresistible charm has truly seduced us.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
1 ILHA GRANDE
Good stopover between Río de Janeiro and Santos or Ilhabela. All coves and inlets are well marked in the local charts;
the area doesn’t present many hazards to navigation.
Its windward side is open to the South Atlantic Ocean and
most of it belongs to a marine park, where anchoring at do
Leste and do Sul beaches is
forbidden. The leeward side is full of small coves and is safe
for anchoring, swimming and snorkeling. Saco do Céu, the
most protected natural harbor, gets crowded during Carnival
week. Vila do Abraão is the island’s village; daily ferries to/
from the mainland, grocery stores, a bank and a post office are
available here.
Just a couple of miles away on the continent, near Angra dos
Reis settlement, Iate Clube do Río de Janeiro’s subsidiary yacht
club, welcomes sailors at their cozy clubhouse. Anchor in the
bay and politely introduce yourself to the club manager; you’ll
probably be allowed to use the showers, water, bar & restaurant.
2 RÍO DE JANEIRO
Don’t be frightened by nasty reports. You´ll rarely have any
problems if you act with common sense. We safely cruised
along Brazil for nearly two years, and know dozens of sailors
who managed neither to be robbed nor bothered, as well. So
just keep your eyes open, especially while in big cities.
3 NITERÓI
On the other side of Río lies Niterói, a more provincial town
that´s less crowded and less imposing. In the first bay is Charitas beach and the Iate Clube Naval, which offers a few days
courtesy to foreign yachts. The Club is excellent and very complete.
The club took good care of Viking II when we left her here,
while visiting our families
Morro de São Paulo Iate Clube is hidden by a tropical jungle
on the northwestern side of Tinharé.
36 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Be careful with the extremely strong current when you anchor in front of the Yacht Club, where depth is 15 to 20 feet.
4 ABROLHOS
The Archipelago belongs to Abrolhos National Maritime Park and it’s controlled by IBAMA ( Brazilian Institute for
the Environment and Natural Resources). For updated info: www.ibama.gov.br
You can anchor inside the sound between Siriba and Redonda islands or at the south of Santa Bárbara island, which
belongs to the Navy. In this southern bay you’ll find a couple of big buoys for mooring. The huge reef complex east of
the islands helps reduce the ocean swell. If the wind shifts to the south, you can anchor at the north side of Santa Bárbara.
NOTE: This is an edited versión of an article first published in Cruising World magazine.

DRAGONFLY BOATWORKS
BUILDING THE PERFECT SHALLOW-WATER
SKIFF FOR FISHING ENTHUSIASTS
Photos by Dragonfly Boatworks
In a world of mass-production, this company stands out for its detail
to construction and design, craftsmanship and total dedication to
each of its beautiful boats. They truly create perfect shallow water
craft by “BUILDING ONE OF A KIND, ONE AT A TIME”.
Dragonfly Boatworks was founded in 2007 by Mark Castlow, a Florida native who grew up in Miami and the Keys, “on, in and around
water”, as he explains.
As a teen he surfed and started his own surf shop and line of surfboards ( Atlantis). His work and innovations in the fiberglass industry put him in demand to create or improvise all sorts of solutions to
all sorts of problems.
And then the boat business… as a previous co-owner of Maverick,
Hewes and Pathfinder Boats, Mark had learnt what it takes to successfully manufacture and market shallow water craft.
He became so knowledgeable about both what people wanted and
what they didn´t want that his next step was to start a business producing two-day, shallow water fishing expositions throughout the
southeastern United States.
And as a logical step after all this impressive background, Dragonfly
Boatworks started, and is now proud to present these amazing skiff
models:

To describe Dragonfly Boatworks´
innovative approach to boats - and to
their website, as well– a word comes
to mind: COOL. Totally cool!.
Just visit these guys’ website and I´ll
bet you´ll agree with me. Through a
groovy Beach Boys-styled site design,
you´ll get a close look at construction
and detail of these interesting and
quite remarkable boats meant for fishing and enjoying the shallow Florida
waters.
Dragonfly Boatworks is located in
Vero Beach, Florida.
www.dragonflyboatworksllc.com
Photos by Dragonfly Boatworks

are marine reptiles that have existed for
some 150 million years. Seven species of sea turtles have
managed to survive to the 21st century. Three of these
species, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, the Green Sea Turtle,
and the Leatherback Sea Turtle, nest on Florida beaches
from March to early September. The Loggerhead is the
most common and Florida is responsible for 90% of nesting Loggerheads, making this state their largest nesting
area in the Western Hemisphere.
The loggerhead turtle is named for its large head, which
can be ten inches wide. It has powerful jaws to crush the
heavy-shelled clams, crabs and encrusting animals on
which it feeds. In the past few years some 50,000-70,000
loggerhead nests have been recorded in Florida annually.
During the nesting season, female loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. If undisturbed, they excavate
pits using their flippers and then dig egg chambers where
they lay some 100 ping-pong ball-sized eggs per nest.
They cover the eggs with sand and return to the water.
The eggs incubate for about 60 days. Hatchlings then
emerge from nests en masse and scurry toward the water.
They spend several days swimming offshore until they
reach safety within the protective masses of floating seaweed in areas where ocean currents meet. They eat, sleep
and grow there for up to ten years and then return to coastal waters. As adults, female sea turtles return to the same
beaches where they hatched to lay their eggs, often navigating across great expanses of water.
Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced worldwide through a number of human influences. Overdeveloped coastal areas have eroded natural nesting areas. Breeding population of adult turtles have been diminished by
capture of eggs, leather, oils and tortoise shell, or mortality from long line fishing, discarded nets, pollution, plastic
products and motorboat injuries. For these reasons, all sea
turtles nesting on US beaches or found in US waters are
designated as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Marine Turtle Protection Program protects them all. If you ever see someone harassing a sea turtle or poaching a nest, call the local
police or the Florida Marine Patrol (1-800-DIAL-FMP).
To report a sick, injured or dead sea turtle contact: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (1-888-404
-FWCC).

3

Never dispose of plastic bags or trash in the ocean,
nor release helium balloons. They may cause illness or
death to turtles and other marine life that eat them.
4 When boating, stay alert and avoid sea turtles. Propeller and collision impacts from boats can result in injury
and death of sea turtles. Also, stay in channels and avoid
anchoring/running in seagrass beds to protect this important habitat from prop damage.
5 If you are an angler, handle fishing line with care. Do
not cast around sea turtles, and properly discard or recycle used or broken fishing lines.
6 If you see a sea turtle that is stranded, injured or dead,
do not touch it, but report it to the proper authorities. Some injured turtles can be rescued and rehabilitated.
This was the basis of a lecture YTM attended one warm
end-of-summer night at the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas”
Nature Center in Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Florida.
After the lecture we all followed the guide to the beach
where some ten hatchlings were manually released at the
water´s edge. We watched in awe as under a full moon
they clumsily entered the sea and started swimming. Children clapped their hands and we all wished them goodluck in their tough life journey. Scientists estimate that
only one out of 1000 hatchlings will make it to adulthood.
But we can do a lot to help them, and attending this lecture is just one of them. Reservations are taken each year
from June 1st onwards, till the last week-end in September. For updated info, phone Crandon Park Nature Center
at 305-3616767, ext. 120. There are several other county
and state parks along the Florida coast that offer programs similar to this one. Please, check with your local
park for more news.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO HELP:
1 Minimize beachfront lighting during sea turtle nesting
season by turning off, shielding or redirecting lights away
from the beach, so as to avoid disorienting hatchlings.
2 Remove recreational equipment – like beach chairsfrom the beach at night, as these items can deter nesting
attempts and prevent hatchlings from reaching the ocean.
Si desea leer esta nota en español, por favor visite nuestro sitio de internet www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com
45

Our thanks to Miami-Dade Park and
Recreation Department photographer
Peter Dooling for the three beautiful
photos he shared with us!.
Live near the beach and want to help
sea turtles?. Join NESTS: Neighbors
Ensuring Sea Turtle Survival. Register
online at www.turtlenests.org
If you´d like to learn about the Sea
Turtle Grants Program and Florida´s
Sea Turtle License Plate, visit
www.helpingseaturtles.org
A treat for the whole family: at
www.shopPBS.org buy the DVD
“VOYAGE OF THE LONELY TURTLE”,
which depicts a loggerhead sea turtle´s remarkable journey across an
ocean back to its familial nesting site.

46 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

The New Digital Yacht SmarterChart Range. A world ‘first’ – a chart plotter with builtin AIS receiver
Digital Yacht has launched a new range of waterproof 5" chart plotters which includes the
world’s first Chart Plotter with built-in dual channel high performance AIS receiver. The new
SmarterChart 500 range comprises a dedicated 5" chart plotter, a combination chart plotter
sounder with built-in high performance dual frequency fishfinder and the unique combination
chart plotter and AIS receiver.
This effectively allows the unit to become a multi-function navigation device, overlaying the
details of all ships and yachts equipped with AIS transponders, directly onto the chart plotter
display. All of the SmarterChart range are compatible with the latest C-Map MAX charting and
all incorporate the very latest high sensitivity built in 50 channel GPS with optional external
antenna versions also available. AIS functionality just requires the addition of a VHF antenna
and there’s a simple plug-in BNC connection on the rear of the unit to facilitate this. .
With the SmarterChart 500 incorporating a true dual channel receiver - simultaneously picking
up both AIS frequencies to ensure the best possible target tracking.
The system greatly reduces the risk of collision as well as allowing yachtsmen to identify ships,
establish voice contact and see their position overlaid on to a chart plotter, together with a closest point of approach calculation.
Digital Yacht USA 978 277-1234
www.digitalyachtusa.com

THERMOBOAT New Marine Coupling
Thermoboat introduces a line of couplings manufactured by Powertrain Europe AS of Norway. The all new Powertrain Coupling is
used to connect marine transmissions to propeller shafts and can
correct shaft to transmission misalignment by as much as 8 degrees
without the need of a mounting bulkhead.
Conventional rubber couplings, by comparison, only allow for .05
degrees of deflection. The Powertrain Coupling is available in three
sizes, capable of handling up to loads of 700hp. Powertrain’s
unique design, utilizing CV technology found in the automotive
industry can save thousands of dollars over similar products that
require a load bearing bulkhead for installation.
Installation of the coupling can be achieved in a little as 15 minutes
and is virtually maintenance free once installed. The
advanced design and ease of installation makes it ideal for use in repowering engines, especially in sailboat applications
where shaft alignments are most problematic.
The Powertrain Coupling made its debut at the Toronto and Seattle
Boat shows in January.
Thermoboat USA 1-888-769-8495
www.thermoboat.com
47

SAFETY ADVICE

An interview with the

Key Biscayne Marine Patrol Unit
by Maria Iriondo

Key Biscayne is a barrier island located on the Southern
Florida coast, in Biscayne Bay. Its waters are a popular
haven for boaters and often get quite busy, especially on
the weekends. These waters also happen to be an official
manatee protected zone and danger lurks when speed
boats, jet skis and the heavy propeller blades of any watercraft navigate close to these gentle mammals.
This is why the Key Biscayne Police department has a
Marine Patrol Unit to watch out for the safety of boaters
and the safety of the manatees, sea turtles and dolphins
that abound in the area.
Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press has two agents
in charge: Officer Hernandez and Officer Alfonso, who
are experienced marine certified sworn police officers and
certified police divers. The marine patrol unit relies on a
25 foot Contender powered by twin Yamaha 150 hp outboard engines and equipped with GPS, and all other required marine, navigation and safety equipment to keep an
eye on Biscayne Bay.

about a bomb threat at the Port of Miami. And that is because the Key Biscayne Marine Patrol also assists the
United States Coast Guard with Homeland Security. The
call was regarding a Carnival Cruise ship but there were
three ships docked close by, and they had to inspect all
three of them underwater. Officer Alfonso explains that
they take all threats very seriously.
These officers also work in conjunction with the United
States Custom Service with illegal narcotics interdiction as
well as illegal alien smuggling interdiction.
Fortunately, situations like this don’t happen that often
and most of their days are spent more calmly keeping the
waters safe for boaters and wildlife.
One of the most dangerous things people often do while
out on a boat is to drink alcoholic beverages. “Alcohol
dehydrates you and some people pass out which can cause
them to fall off the boat. That’s why it’s very important to
often drink water while boating, you need to stay hydrated. We want people to have fun in a safe way. Of
course boat operators are not allowed to drink alcohol!”.

“We mainly respond to disturbances, rescue people out of
the water and control speeding watercraft”, explains Officer Hernandez who’s been on the patrol for 6 years. Most
of the problems are related to drinking, especially on the
weekends when people gather at Mashta flats.
“We deal with the small stuff to avoid the bigger stuff”, he
tells us. “The speeding can really hurt the manatees”.

According to statistics, Florida has the highest number of
accidents and fatalities in the country. Over 30% of boaters don’t wear life jackets. “We recommend people to take
boating safety courses and to get a boater’s ID”.
Please check www.fwc.com/Boating for more information on boating safety tips and regulations.

Sometimes more complicated situations arise as it happened a year ago when these officers got a priority call

For more information on the KB Marine Patrol you can
log onto www.keybiscayne.org/marinepatrol

Sunbathing is like icing on a cake, certainly a great part of
the fun of being out in the open ocean. Unfortunately, if
caution is not taken, excessive sun exposure can be a great detriment to your health. Not just for the sake of aging,
but because of skin cancer and its various forms.
Aside from malignant melanoma, there are two other types of skin cancer that although not as lethal, can be quite
dangerous too and are often overlooked: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are cancers that arise
on their own, or from simple lesions called actinic keratosis, both look scaly and pink and have sometimes minimal
elevation.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology
more than 250,000 new squamos cell carcinomas are
diagnosed every year in the United States. Those most
affected are middle-aged and elderly people with fair
complexions and frequent sun exposure. As far as Basal
Cell carcinomas, which develop in the basal layer of the
50 www.yachtingtimesmagazines.com

skin—deeper than the surface layer, it seldom spreads to
other parts of the body but can be disfiguring if not treated early.
It all begins with a small lesion that looks and feels like a
little pink bump that won’t go away. You scratch it and it
bleeds, it heals but it comes back. These lesions usually
appear on the head, face and on the nose. But it’s also
important to remember some hidden parts of our body
that are very exposed and we often seem to forget: the
nape, the eyelids and right behind the ears.
“Ninety percent of most cases of basal cell and squamous
cell carcinomas are found on the head and the neck,” explains dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon Dr. Manuel Iriondo from Miami, Florida
“That’s why it’s so important to wear sun block in these
areas. Particularly if you’re out on a boat, you must make
sure you reapply it as often as you need.

The water reflects 25% of the sunlight, increasing the
amount of sun exposure that you get.”
The real danger lies in not treating these types of cancer
on time. A basal cell carcinoma can extend into neighboring tissue penetrating the eyes, the ear canal and can
even damage major nerves.
As far as the squamous cell carcinoma, although more
slow growing, it can spread to the lymph nodes. In both
cases, if left untreated, these types of cancer can be lethal
if they metastasize to the brain or lung.
The best prevention is having a routine exam with your
dermatologist once a year. Should anything be detected,
you would then be referred to a Mohs surgeon who specializes in treating these types of cancer.
“Boaters tend to have the highest incidence of skin cancer,” says Dr. Iriondo. “That’s why it’s so important to
use sun block”.
There are two types of sun block: chemical ones and physical ones. Chemical sunscreens, made of avobenzone,
octocylene o mexoril, absorb the UVA and UVB rays and
therefore reduce their penetration into the skin. They are
usually invisible, but require 15 to 30 minutes to become
effective and need to be reapplied every two hours.
On the other hand, physical sunscreens reflect UVA and
UVB rays without absorbing them. Until now, they were
thick messy substances made of titanium dioxide and zinc
oxide. But there are new ones available that are created
with a smaller molecular structure in nanometers, thus
making them just as invisible as their chemical counterparts. Physical sunscreens are effective right away and
don’t cause allergies.
The latest novelty, as far as skin care protection goes, is a
small bracelet created by Scottish scientist Andrew Mills
from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The bracelet changes color to alert you when the sun is beginning
to hurt your skin, if it turns pink, it means it’s time to seek
some shade.
El sol como aliado
Tomar el sol en un barco es un verdadero placer pero si
no se hace con cuidado, su salud puede verse seriamente
afectada. Y es que el sol en exceso no solo envejece, sino
que también causa cáncer de piel.
El cáncer de piel más conocido es el melanoma, pero
existen otros dos tipos que aunque no sean tan agresivos,
si pueden ser muy peligrosos si no se tratan a tiempo: el
carcinoma basocelular y el carcinoma espinocelular que
a veces se forman de manera espontánea, o se pueden
derivar de una keratosis actínica. Cuando aparecen, ambas lesiones lucen rosadas y escamosas con cierta elevación.
De acuerdo a la Academia Americana de Dermatología,
en EEUU se diagnostican más de 250, 0000 carcinomas
espinocelulares al año. Los más afectados suelen ser las

Family Coryphaenidae
Dolphin is a stunning offshore fish with its glowing
greenish blue back, yellow sides, and great array of
bright colors like purple and gold, scattered all over its
body. This highly migratory species is found worldwide in open waters of tropical and warm-temperate

seas. Also known as dolphinfish or dorado, Mahi-Mahi
in Hawaii and Llampuga in the Balearic Islands, it feeds
on other fish- mainly flying fish-, squid and crustaceans,
and usually swims in a school.
One of the fastest growing of its kind, it is reported to
live a maximum of 5 years. Its swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots, and its common weigh is around 30
lbs, though the Florida Record is set at 77 lbs, 12 ozs.
It is renowned for its delicious flesh, and for the great
fight and show it puts up when hooked, making fast,
powerful runs and leaping out of the water. It likes to
hide below sargassum weed or other floating objects,
which makes it easy to find.
Through the Strait of Gibraltar it wanders into the
Mediterranean where fishermen prize it highly. As the
Mediterranean offers clean deep waters without much of
the kelp, seaweed and debris found everywhere else, the
fishermen of the Balearic islands and southern Italy
have developed a special technique to attract Dolphin in
big numbers. They make small wooden rafts to provide
shelter and a mini-habitat to these pelagic fish, and then
anchor them in deep water found around the many corners of their islands. This technique has proven to be
very successful over hundreds of years of practice.
Dolphinfish is known to chase anything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright
and moves quickly. If you ever run out of lures, you can
try the old-time spoon bait â&#x20AC;&#x201C; drilling one small hole at
each end of a metal spoon, one for the hook and the
other for the swivel and leader of your line- and you'll
be surprised by how well it works!. In fact, the Dolphin
in this photo was caught that way while sailing at about
7 knots downwind in the Mona Passage.

CEVICHE YUCATECO
Mexican sailor Juan Campos shares his tasty ceviche, spiced the
Yucatan way.
According to experts, ceviche could well be of Peruvian origin yet it is made in different ways all over Latin-America. Some say it comes from Asia and was brought to Peru
through its Japanese immigrants. Others say it came with the Arab immigrants, and some people claim it was the Spaniards who brought “escabeche”, a typical Spanish marinade dish. This theory makes sense because “escabeche” can be made with lemon,
and lemons arrived in Peru with the Spanish colonization. But there is an older theory
that sounds more like the right one: a Lambayeque Indian from Peru that used a sour
fruit called tumbo- similar to watermelon- to marinade fish before eating it…….

The harsh effect of the Sun is devastating for our varnish, especially down here in the tropics where its relentless force
hits every surface with such fury.
For this 45-year-old mast that belongs to a very dear friend of mine, itÂ´s certainly time for an overhaul! After bringing
the stick down and inspecting the coating, we quickly realized that the best step to follow was to strip it back down to
bare wood. Once I carefully curated the hairline cracks on the seams that developed due to weather exposure, I started to
sand, square and rectify the surface, all of this in good preparation to a proper sealing and coat build-up. We happen to
be going through one of the wettest summers ever and even when the hurricane season has seen near to nothing of activity, heavy downpours are nevertheless the order of the day. This situation brings the application window to a short time
in the mornings followed usually by a day with a high humidity percentage. This circumstance made our choice of product just plain easy. In a market inundated by so many different brands we agreed with the owner to use only the very
best: long-time favorite, Epifanes Clear Gloss Varnish.
We started to disassemble, carefully label and take pics of every piece of hardware that would be removed from mast and
boom.
This time I opted for a quick and great water-based paint- stripper. If needed, its chemical effect could be immediately
58

www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

suspended with water.
I also applied it in three thin stages at minimum workingtime, rather than a heavy, gross coat. It made wonders,
and allowed me to scrape the old finish with a very inexpensive 2 inch thick flat scrapper. Right there and before
a good surface wash down, I dedicated some time to pull
any varnish left over that was either too in love with the
wood, or had been missed by my scrapper- with a medium bronze wool. Then, after a good day dryout session,
it´s time for the sanding. To make it short, I´m using 80
grit to clean, open the pore and rectify, followed by 180
and then 220-320 grit always with the grain, with a Festool vacuum system and invariably finishing corners and
tight ends by hand.
It´s also time to decide how far to go if the base is too
deeply scarred by the sun and moisture-abused.
Personally, I like to take as little substrate away as necessary and let those dents of time give your wood a bit of
character. When the piece to be varnished looks good
overall, give it a good clean with rags soaked in mineral
spirit, changing rags repeatedly, let the wood soak it well
and do it once more right before you start the next step.
To follow, strain the varnish if you are working from a
previously opened can and pour what you feel you´ll use
in a clean container and dilute it as per written notice.
The recommended thinning ratios are as follows:
50%/50% (half varnish/ half thinner) for the first sealer
coat. Use 75% varnish/25% thinner for the second coat,
and 90%/10% for the third one. From then onwards, add
just a cap per quart of brushing liquid to ease up the flow
and keep an open working edge. (You most probably
won´t need this in anything but the warmest climate!)

the next coat with a good griping surface without scratching too much.
At this stage scrubbing pads like the ones offered by 3M
are a blessing, but I rather stick to the sand paper to flatten pores and dirt that may have accumulated over my
careful brushing.
Then rinse with water, chamois down, let air and clean
with denatured alcohol.
Mix the varnish with a cap of brushing liquid and go for
it.
I´d rather clean brushes and mats right away and keep
´em dry until next time. So there are no surprises there.
In this very particular case, I´m focusing more in building
up the thickest layer of varnish, than in having the slickest
of surfaces, a process that will require more grinding with
the subsequent thinning of the film. The varnish will run
faster and smoother if you dilute it towards the highest
number of the mixing ratio, only to leave a dull unprotected coat when the solvent evaporates.
Bear in mind that varnishing can be tedious and timeconsuming. The result, though, will be highly rewarding.
It´s only a matter of perseverance and it really helps to
use the right materials. Go ahead and try it out! And
always remember: only practice makes perfect!

Please allow the sealer coats to dry completely before
sanding in between. The adhesion of those first coats will
play a great part in the job´s general appearance and longevity. Another example that good prep work is best for
great results!
It´s time now to start building up coats, and is also going
to become a little routine at this point.
I like to sand down very lightly by hand with 320, following the grain. This grit will knock down dirt and provides
59

Even when it looks like an awful
lot of work, if the substrate is in
bad shape try to peel it out and
start from fresh over a good
base. Prevention is your best
ally, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to avoid
rough grit sanding scratches
rather than having to reduce
them later. Also, it pays more in
the end to maintain a finish properly with a refreshing coat, than
neglect it and having to scrape
everything to bare wood later.
Your boat will be very thankful.

163 Mt. Vernon St. New Bedford, Massachusets. 02740 (508) 997-9008

www.kirbypaint.com

Brooklin Boat Yard was founded in
1960 by renowned Yacht Designer
Joel M. White and is presently operated by Joel’s son Steve White. The
yard is located in Brooklin, Maine on
the Eggemoggin Reach. The Reach
lies between Blue Hill and Penobscot
Bays and is in the heart of the best
cruising grounds on the coast of
Maine.
They are a full service yard specializing in the design, construction, repair and maintenance of wooden
boats. They offer a complete design

62 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

office, new boat construction and
classic yacht restoration services,
along with routine storage and maintenance services. In addition to the
above services, they also have on-site
a yacht brokerage office.
Their new 80 Metric Ton Travel
Lift allows them to haul-out and service yachts of considerable size.
There is 16,000 square feet of inside
storage space and a deep water dock.
Aside from providing regular carpentry, painting, rigging and mechanical
services, they offer a complete ma-

chine shop and a modern paint building.
Their new main shop can accommodate boats up to 120 feet. With a
highly skilled and versatile 60+ man
crew, Brooklin Boat Yard offers
yacht owners a “one stop shopping”
destination for any project large or
small.
BBY has built well over 80 boats
since their start in 1960. Maybe yours
will be next...

“BEQUIA”, 90’ Yawl, a perfect example of
Brooklin Boatyard’s superb craftsmanship,
designed by Robert Stephens & Paul Waring (Stephens,
Waring & White Yacht Design). “BEQUIA” represents
the largest project to date for both the design office and
Brooklin Boat yard. This new world-class yacht was
launched at the time of high water on Saturday, June 27,
2009.
The owners of “BEQUIA” sought out Brooklin Boat Yard
after seeing numerous examples of the yard’s previous
work, most notably the 76’ W-Class day-racing sloops.
While this new yawl shares the graceful sheerline,
lengthy overhangs and classic esthetic of the W-Class
boats, she is a much more substantial vessel, fully capable
of taking her crew around the world’s oceans in safety,
luxury and elegance.Design work began in early 2005,
more than two years prior to beginning construction in the
spring of 2007. “With a yacht of this complexity, it’s
good to have some time to work out the details before
wood starts going together”, says designer Robert
Stephens.
Perhaps the most demanding task for the design team was
the integration of the ships systems into the traditional
deck layout and interior joinery. In addition to the long
list of creature comfort systems (air conditioning, refrigeration, gas fireplace, ice maker, etc.) “BEQUIA” also
features fully automated sail-handling with a hydraulic
system running some 27 different functions such as sail
furling, winches and anchor deployment.
The hydraulics can be powered by one or both of two
15kw generators, or if silent operation is desired, can be
run through the ship’s DC electrical system. Extensive
computer modeling has allowed the designers to minimize the intrusion of the various systems upon the accommodations.
BEQUIA’s most noticeable feature on deck is her varnished teak charthouse. The charthouse features a spacious chart table, electronics displays & autopilot controls
so that once underway her crew can stand watch in comfort. When in port, the charthouse offers the owners and
guests an elegant & comfortable elevated saloon with
large windows providing sweeping views of her surroundings.
Carbon spars (Southern Spars) and state of the art sails
(North Sails) deliver sparkling sailing performance, while
64 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

a relatively long, shallow keel and spade rudder ensure
good maneuverability along with access to the thin water
of some of the world’s prime cruising grounds.
Hull construction is of cold-molded wood-epoxy, a building technique proven to be exceptionally strong, lightweight, low-maintenance, and very cost effective for production of custom yachts in this size range. An added
benefit is the natural beauty of the varnished interior of
the hull structure which on “BEQUIA” has been left exposed in the main saloon and staterooms.
For more info, visit www.brooklinboatyard.com

RESTORING “MISCHIEF”
Originally built in 1926, MISCHIEF had been under the
same ownership since 1932. She had been a fixture at
BBY for as long as anyone can remember, so it seemed
only fitting that when her owner passed away, she was
left to the care of the yard with the understanding that she
would continue to be maintained and sailed. In August
2009, work began on what at first was thought to be an
extensive refit, but quickly changed to a full-on restoration project under the direction of Brian Larkin, who had
previously headed up the restoration of “Aphrodite”.
All floors and frames have already been replaced. Her
planking is in good shape so it will be retained, but there
will be a new varnished oak sheer, new deck, new cockpit, new cabin and interior, new chain plates and sailing
hardware, new keel bolts, and so on. When completed,
Mischief will be essentially a brand new boat and ready
for at least another 84 years. Mischief is being offered for
sale, so if you have interest in this restoration project,
please contact John Maxwell at BBY.